{"id":6309,"date":"2016-06-10T11:52:38","date_gmt":"2016-06-10T11:52:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/saadmissions.com\/unisas-college-of-education-shows-its-commitment-to-the-community\/"},"modified":"2016-06-10T11:52:38","modified_gmt":"2016-06-10T11:52:38","slug":"unisas-college-of-education-shows-its-commitment-to-the-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/unisas-college-of-education-shows-its-commitment-to-the-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Unisa\u2019s College of Education shows its commitment to the community"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12000\" src=\"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/www.unisa_.ac_.zanewswp-contentuploads201606bodyIMG_8415-103b6ab032765bf808d7b984d4994bb857fd520e.jpg\" alt=\"bodyIMG_8415\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ailwei Mawela (Curriculum and Instructional Studies, CEDU) unveils the Nissan Impendulo NV350 he was instrumental in getting donated to Gordon Primary School in Alexandra.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"advads-atf\" style=\"margin-top: 15px;margin-bottom: 20px;\" id=\"advads-3833536914\"><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-9198760278752355\"\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\n<!-- Responsive ads atf -->\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9198760278752355\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"8381596201\"\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/div><p>The staff and learners of Gordon Primary School in Alexandra were excited to receive a new school bus, courtesy of Unilever South Africa. Ailwei Mawela, a lecturer at Unisa&rsquo;s Department of Curriculum and Instructional Studies in the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.unisa.ac.za\/Default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&amp;ContentID=26818\">College of Education<\/a> (CEDU) and former principal of Gordon Primary, and his strategic partner, Orestis Patricios of the Ornico Group, were instrumental in securing the donation of the minibus, a Nissan Impendulo NV350.<\/p>\n<p>This bus will be used to transport learners to sporting events, school excursions and other events that will add great value to their education experience, and will assist the school in providing better opportunities for learners who are soccer champions, among other sporting codes.<\/p>\n<p>Mawela has a long list of educator pastoral care accomplishments. In the past, he has also collaborated with other local businesses in providing every learner in the school with both summer and winter uniforms, a state-of-the-art computer lab consisting of 50 desktop computers donated by Siyakha Education Trust, and a developing library.<\/p>\n<p>Miya Mduduzi, a CEDU Teaching Practice student at the school, says that &ldquo;when facilities are in place, it makes the learning environment very conducive. My assignment to Gordon Primary has very been inspiring.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Patricios, the strategic partner of Mawela said that &ldquo;the challenges which schools like Gordon Primary are facing are a wake-up call for the business community. The community engagement call has become a pillar of business.&rdquo; This is an example of how public-private partnerships that engage with community stakeholders can help develop more resilient and sustainable schools.<\/p>\n<p>The challenges faced by the school are very familiar to Prof Oupa Lebeloane, affectionately known as &ldquo;Bra Oupa&rdquo;, a director of CEDU&rsquo;s School of Educational Studies. Bra Oupa is a former third-generation educator in his family at a number of Alexandra township schools. The Lebeloane family remain proud property owners there.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Gordon Primary project is close to my heart, among the many other community engagement projects I actively participate in,&rdquo; said Lebeloane. There are still many challenges the school is facing but not enough to dim the bright smiles the learners show. It is important to note that while Alexandra, established in 1912, does not have the same good economic standing as its neighbour Sandton, nevertheless, to the benefit of CEDU, it has produced a noteworthy leader and academic such as Bra Oupa.<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" width=\"600px\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"5\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"360px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/www.unisa_.ac_.zanewswp-contentuploads201606CEDU-1-092ddf4dfd3cd8cb665cd0de19984890d9ab3d73.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12026 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/www.unisa_.ac_.zanewswp-contentuploads201606CEDU-1-092ddf4dfd3cd8cb665cd0de19984890d9ab3d73.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"250\" height=\"173\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"360px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/www.unisa_.ac_.zanewswp-contentuploads201606CEDU-2-2e2783ea349d0666f22c7c6d6393a7ca237aa334.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12026\" src=\"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/www.unisa_.ac_.zanewswp-contentuploads201606CEDU-2-2e2783ea349d0666f22c7c6d6393a7ca237aa334.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"250\" height=\"173\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" width=\"720px\">Prof Geesje van den Berg and Prof Oupa Lebeloane<br \/>\ninteracting with Gordon Primary learners<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Prof Geesje van den Berg, a former primary school teacher and the current&nbsp;Chair&nbsp;of the&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.unisa.ac.za\/default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&amp;ContentID=95147\">Department of Curriculum and Instructional Studies<\/a> of CEDU, said that &ldquo;Mr Mawela is a dynamic recent addition to the excellent department of the curriculum and instructional studies collective&rdquo;. She stressed that community engagement should consist of individuals who build ongoing relationships for a purpose and added that the Gordon Primary project was now a commitment and a collective vision.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12001\" src=\"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/www.unisa_.ac_.zanewswp-contentuploads201606bodyIMG_8365-2cc42336d5fcb8f178f8bd45776c71e72ef340b5.jpg\" alt=\"bodyIMG_8365\" width=\"280\" height=\"187\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ailwei Mawela and Unilever South Africa CEO Peter Cowan<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>She explained that community engagement has possible long-term implications, and that &ldquo;when we visit schools and interact with learners, we gain an intimate understanding of the unique circumstances surrounding each project; in addition, we plant in young minds the seeds of the possibility of attending universities in the future. We furthermore encourage educators to advance their studies while we relate with current CEDU students.&rdquo;<\/p><div class=\"advads-content\" id=\"advads-4142239846\"><div style=\"width: 300px; padding: 20px; margin: 0 auto; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: center; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\">\r\n    <p style=\"font-size: 16px; margin: 0 0 10px;\">Need Information or Confused about Something ? <\/p>\r\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/onlineapplications.co.za\/ask\/\" style=\"display: inline-block; padding: 10px 20px; background-color: #007BFF; color: #fff; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 4px; transition: background-color 0.3s;\">Ask a Question<\/a>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><div class=\"advads-btf\" style=\"margin-top: 15px;margin-bottom: 20px;\" id=\"advads-3482578465\"><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-9198760278752355\"\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\n<!-- Responsive ads btf -->\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9198760278752355\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"5513273173\"\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/div>\n<p>At the bus handover, Unilever South Africa CEO Peter Cowan said: &ldquo;The minibus is a small token of our appreciation for the hard work and efforts that the former principal, Mr Mawela, the Gordon Primary staff, the governing body and the community have put into making sure that this school is one where we nurture the country&rsquo;s future.&rdquo; The acting principal of Gordon Primary, Mahlambi Sizwe, was overwhelmed with joy.<\/p>\n<p><em>*By Dineo Horner<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"advads-cpc\" id=\"advads-110668993\"><p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Sponsored Guide<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Complete Guide to NSFAS Online Loan Application for South African Students (2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you are a South African student looking to pursue higher education but are facing financial difficulties, the <strong>National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)<\/strong> is one of the most accessible funding options available. NSFAS provides financial aid in the form of <strong>bursaries and loans<\/strong> to qualifying students at public universities and TVET colleges in South Africa.<\/p>\n<p>This guide will walk you through <strong>everything you need to know about the NSFAS loan application process<\/strong>, from eligibility requirements to application steps and frequently asked questions.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udccc What is NSFAS?<\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)<\/strong> is a government-funded financial aid scheme aimed at helping students from low- and middle-income households to access tertiary education without the burden of upfront fees.<\/p>\n<p>NSFAS <strong>offers both bursaries and income-contingent loans<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Bursaries<\/strong>: For eligible students who meet academic and household income criteria (especially for TVET and university students).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Loans<\/strong>: For students who do not meet all bursary criteria or who are pursuing postgraduate qualifications not funded under bursary schemes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\u2705 Who Qualifies for an NSFAS Loan?<\/h2>\n<p>To qualify for an NSFAS loan (especially for postgraduate students or programs not funded under the bursary system), you must:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Be a <strong>South African citizen<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Be <strong>financially needy<\/strong>, with a household income of <strong>less than R350,000 per year<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Have a <strong>valid South African ID<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Be <strong>enrolled or accepted<\/strong> to study at a <strong>public university or TVET college<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Not be funded through another bursary program that covers all expenses.<\/li>\n<li>Maintain satisfactory <strong>academic progress<\/strong> (returning students).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udcda Courses Funded by NSFAS<\/h2>\n<p>NSFAS primarily funds <strong>undergraduate qualifications<\/strong>, but certain <strong>postgraduate programs (e.g., PGCE, postgraduate diplomas in education, and professional courses like LLB)<\/strong> may be considered under the <strong>NSFAS loan scheme<\/strong>, not bursaries.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re studying:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Undergraduate degree or diploma<\/strong>: You are likely eligible for a full NSFAS bursary.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Postgraduate study<\/strong>: You may qualify for a loan, depending on the course and funding availability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udcc4 Required Documents for NSFAS Application<\/h2>\n<p>When applying, make sure you have the following documents scanned and ready:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Certified copy of your South African ID or Smart Card<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Parent(s) or guardian(s) ID documents<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Proof of income<\/strong> (latest payslips, UIF, or affidavit if unemployed).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Consent Form<\/strong> signed by your parent(s)\/guardian(s) to allow NSFAS to verify income.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Proof of registration or acceptance at a public institution<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Academic transcripts<\/strong> (for continuing or postgraduate students).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udda5\ufe0f How to Apply for an NSFAS Loan Online<\/h2>\n<h3>Step-by-Step NSFAS Online Application Process (2025)<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Visit the NSFAS Website<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Go to: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nsfas.org.za\/\">https:\/\/www.nsfas.org.za<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Create an Account<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Click on <strong>\u201cMyNSFAS\u201d<\/strong> and register your profile.<\/li>\n<li>You\u2019ll need a <strong>valid email address<\/strong> and <strong>South African cellphone number<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Choose a strong password and verify your account via email or SMS.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Login and Start the Application<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>After registration, log in to your <strong>MyNSFAS<\/strong> account.<\/li>\n<li>Click on <strong>\u201cApply\u201d<\/strong> to begin a new application.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Fill in Your Personal Details<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Input your <strong>ID number<\/strong>, name, surname, and other details exactly as they appear on your ID.<\/li>\n<li>Provide <strong>household income information<\/strong> and living arrangements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Upload Required Documents<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Upload all supporting documents in <strong>PDF or JPEG format<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Each document must be clear and under the size limit specified.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Submit Your Application<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Review your application for accuracy.<\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>\u201cSubmit\u201d<\/strong> and wait for a confirmation message.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Track Your Application<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Log in regularly to check your application status.<\/li>\n<li>You will be notified via SMS and email at each stage of the process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f Important NSFAS Dates (2025)<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Application Opening Date<\/strong>: September 1, 2025<\/li>\n<li><strong>Application Deadline<\/strong>: January 31, 2026<\/li>\n<li><strong>Appeals Period<\/strong>: February 2026 (if rejected)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Disbursement<\/strong>: After registration and approval<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Note: Dates are subject to change; always confirm on the official NSFAS website.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udcb8 What Does the NSFAS Loan Cover?<\/h2>\n<p>NSFAS funding typically includes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Tuition fees<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Registration fees<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Accommodation (if living away from home)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Meals and transport<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Learning materials (e.g., textbooks)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For <strong>loans<\/strong>, repayment is only required <strong>once you start working and earn above a threshold<\/strong> (around R30,000 annually, but subject to change).<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udd04 NSFAS Loan Repayment<\/h2>\n<p>Repayments are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Income-contingent<\/strong> \u2013 you only repay when you can afford to.<\/li>\n<li>Administered by <strong>DHET (Department of Higher Education and Training)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Interest-bearing<\/strong>, but interest rates are low and favorable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You can also apply for a <strong>partial loan conversion to a bursary<\/strong> if you perform well academically.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udd01 How to Appeal a Rejected NSFAS Application<\/h2>\n<p>If your application is rejected, you may submit an appeal via your MyNSFAS portal:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Log into your MyNSFAS account.<\/li>\n<li>Click on <strong>\u201cTrack Funding Progress\u201d<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>If rejected, click on <strong>\u201cSubmit Appeal\u201d<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Upload any missing or corrected documents.<\/li>\n<li>Provide a clear explanation or motivation.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udcf1 NSFAS Contact Information<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Website<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nsfas.org.za\/\">https:\/\/www.nsfas.org.za<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Email<\/strong>: <a href=\"mailto:info@nsfas.org.za\">info@nsfas.org.za<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Toll-Free Number<\/strong>: 08000 67327 (Monday\u2013Friday, 8 AM\u20135 PM)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Twitter<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/myNSFAS\">@myNSFAS<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Facebook<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/myNSFAS\">NSFAS<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udcdd Final Tips Before Applying<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Apply <strong>early<\/strong> to avoid system overload near the deadline.<\/li>\n<li>Use <strong>your own email and cellphone number<\/strong> (do not use someone else\u2019s).<\/li>\n<li>Double-check that all your documents are <strong>certified and legible<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Keep a <strong>copy of your submission confirmation<\/strong> for reference.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p>By following this guide, you can confidently apply for NSFAS funding and move one step closer to achieving your academic and career dreams\u2014without the burden of immediate financial pressure.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ailwei Mawela (Curriculum and Instructional Studies, CEDU) unveils the Nissan Impendulo NV350 he was instrumental in getting donated to Gordon Primary School in Alexandra. The staff and learners of Gordon Primary School in Alexandra were excited to receive a new school bus, courtesy of Unilever South Africa. Ailwei Mawela, a lecturer at Unisa&rsquo;s Department of\u2026 <span class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/unisas-college-of-education-shows-its-commitment-to-the-community\/\">Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6310,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6309","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6309","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6309"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6309\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6309"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6309"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uni1.co.za\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6309"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}